Adjustable finger grip for fishing rods



Jan. 9, 1940. L. A. YUNCKER 2,186,515

ADJUSTABLE FINGER'GRIP FOR FISHING RODS Original Filed Sept. 15, 1937 Myanma- .4 ttorneys Inventor Patented Jan. 9, 194

, UNITED STAT ADJUSTABLE y no Application v '3 Claims.

Thisinvention' relates to anglers "equipment and accessories, and more particularly to casting and fishing rods, and the 'primary purpose of the invention is to provide an adjustable finger grip or hook, the same being arranged and mounted for coaction with the conventional cork -or equivalent comp osition hand grip.

, As implied by the preceding introductory statement of the invention, I am generally conversant with marketed and patented structures existing in this same structural category. For example, I am aware of Patent No. 1,909,529 granted to one H. S. Gephart disclosing a fishing rodstructure and incidentally showing a fixedly mounted fin- 5 ger grip associated with a hand grip, the finger grip being mounted on the bight portion of what may be called a U-shaped or drop-center reel adapter and accommodationseat. I

Admittedly, therefore, it is old in the art to utilize the broad'association of a finger grip or equivalent fixture and a hand grip, the finger grip being in advance of the hand grip to-provide a more satisfactory hold for the user. It is evident however, that in the aforementioned pat- .ented arrangement, the finger hook is fixedly mounted. Therefore, it isinot adaptable to. convenient use by fishermen having hands and fingers of different sizes. It follows therefore, that my primary aim is to provide a hook disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the hand grip, the hook being adjustable towardand from the frontal end of the hand grip whereby to vary and regulate these companion features so that they become more adaptable to different users, the improved assembly being more aptly fitted for the purposes intended, and serving to promote comfortable and reliable retention of the rod and reel in one hand, while at the same time utilizing the thumb of the same hand for regulating coaction with the line as it .is paid out.-

More specifically, I have evolved and produced a simple and economical adjustable finger hook fixture or bracket cooperable with more or less pensive alteration, the preferred embodiment utilizing reliable slot and keying means for mounting and maintaining the finger hook in correct position. 7

' Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawing.

In the drawing, wherein-the preferred embod- 55 conventional rod structures without requiring eximent of the invention is illustrated and like September 13, 1937, Serial No. 163,649 RencwedMarch 25, 1939 reference characters are employed to designate like parts. throughout the views:

Figure l is an elevation ofthe handle part of a fishing rod withv the improved finger grip thereon.

Figure 2 is a view taken at right anglesuto; Figure 1 with the grip removed. i Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing how the screw engages a part of the grip to hold the same in position.

Referring now to the drawing by distinguish- 7 ing reference numerals, the rod proper is denoted 'by'the numeral l,'the conventional longitudinally aligned hand grip is indicated at 2, while the drop-center or substantially U-sh'aped inter: vening reel seat is indicatedfat 3. Associated with this is the hook-{style bracket or fixture forming the aforementioned finger grip, this be- I ing generally designated by the numeral 4. Broadly, this is at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the hand grip .2 and isdisposed at a. point adjacent the frontal portionof said hand grip. Moreover, it is 'adjustably mounted on the rod, preferably the so-called reel seat. Although other means may be employed for accomplishing this adjustment feature, the arrangement depict ed in the drawing is preferred. That is to say, the bight portion of the reel seat is provided with a longitudinally elongated slot 3. This serves to accommodate and receive the projecting rib-like extension or key formed integral with the later* ally directed attaching base 4'. The base has sliding contact with the adjacent surface of the part 3.- The rib or tongue 5 projects into the slot 3' allowing sliding adjustment and preventing axial turning of the finger grip. The so-called key is'screw threaded to accommodate the shank of the clamping screw 6. The shank passes through the slot and'the head of the screw engages with the part 3 to provide the adjustable and detachable clamping'association depicted to advantage in Figure 3. v l Thus it will be seen that by loosening the screw the finger grip can beadjusted longitudinally on the part 3 and then by tightening the screwthe grip will be held in adjusted position. Thus the grip can be adjusted to a position where it best suits the person using the rod. As shown in Figure 1, the finger engaging portion of the member 4 can be moved to a position where it will extend beyond the handle end of" the part 3.

Considered from another viewpoint, novelty is thought to reside in the combination of the hand grip 2 and the finger grip! at right angles there-' to and keyed and slidably adjustable on that part of the structure adjacent the hand grip, so that the two parts 2 and 4 together form a sort of an L, one limb 2 being fixed and the other limb adjustable toward and from it to provide a variable twin-part grip susceptible of accomplishing the results previously stated.

It is thought thatthe description taken in connection with the drawing will enable a clear understanding of the invention to be had. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought un} hook, said base further bridging said slot, and an assembling and-clamping screw, the head necessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim- 1. In a fishing rod provided with straight portion in front of the handle, said portion forming a reel seat and having a longitudinally extending slot therein, a finger grip having an elongated base part provided With an elongated tongue on that face which is opposite the grip portion, said tongue having a sliding fit in the slot, and a screw passing through the slot into the tongue and base part for adjustably holding the grip in position, said screw passing into the base part adjacent the free end thereof for permitting the grip portion to be positioned beyond the handle end of the straight portion.

2. In a casting rod assembly of the class described, a rod having a hand-grip at one end and provided in advance of said hand-grip with a portion having a slot forming a keyway, said slotted portion functioning as a reel supporting and accommodation seat, a flat base plate longitudinally elongated and of a transverse width less than said reel seat slidably contacting an adjacent face of the reel seat, said base portion having a longitudinally elongated block-like key fitting slidably into the slot and provided with ascrew-threaded socket, said base being provided at its outer end with a laterally directed fingerthereof bridging the slot on the reel seat accommodating side, the shank extending through the slot and-into said socket.

i 3. In a casting rod assembly of the class de- 1 .scribed, a fishing rod having a hand-grip at one an elongated end and provided adjacent said hand-grip with a substantially U-shaped drop center reel accommodation seat, the bight portion thereof being in-the form of a flat bar and having a longitudinal slot, a separable and adjustable finger grip unit comprising a finger hook and a flat base plate, said-plate being in sliding contact with the normal bottom side of said slotted bar, said plate being of a width to completely bridge the slot, an assembling and fastening screw including a head bridging the slot on the opposite face of the bar, said screw having its threaded shank passing through the slot and threadedly connected with said base plate.

. LEO A. YUNCKER. 

